Mrs. Gloria Mae White Munro

      Gloria Mae Munro was a loving and happy person. She willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life she touched. For Gloria, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. Gloria really enjoyed making people feel special. Gloria loved to help anyone who needed her. She was the one that everyone ran to for help. Gloria spent countless hours sitting in the hospital visiting with sick family members. Gloria was always willing to talk, listen and offer her support and love.

Her parents were Richard Frederick and Marguerite White. Gloria was raised in Toronto, Ontario. Gloria spent most of her time in the east end of Toronto on or near Pape Avenue. Gloria was easy-going and fun loving. She managed to lighten the mood wherever she was, even during family squabbles. She seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Gloria managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Gloria was raised with seven siblings. She had four older siblings Wayne, Joan, Donald and Rhoda and also three younger siblings, Douglas, Wanda and Leslie.

All of Gloria's playful good humour carried over from her childhood. She had an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed her to be constantly on the go. In her spare time she liked to read.

Ask anyone who knew her from school and they would tell you that Gloria simply enjoyed others' laughter and the sounds of her friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for Gloria, grades were a very important thing to her and she did very well in school. Gloria attended Morse Street Public School and then went onto Queen A where she excelled in grades 7 and 8. She was on the honour roll at Eastern Commerce. Dad says she was a "teacher's Pet!"

The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Gloria very easy to approach. On February 16th, 1963 Gloria exchanged wedding vows with Reginald Brian Munro at Woodgreen United Church of Toronto, Ontario. She tried hard not to impose on her spouse. She was always sensitive to other people's feelings, and that was especially true in marriage. Reg and Gloria loved each other so much that they renewed their wedding vows on their 25th anniversary and went on a wonderful honeymoon to Hawaii.

Perhaps the reason Gloria related so well to children was the fact that she never really completely grew up herself. The ability to be just a "kid at heart" helped her in raising her own children. Gloria was blessed with three children, Kimberley Ann, Beverley Ann and Brian Ronald. She was also blessed with six grandchildren, Drew, Lauren, Zachary, Megan, Emily and Adam. Gloria had the ability to focus her attention on the present moment. If she was spending time with the kids, that's where all of her attention was directed. Gloria's compassionate side prevented her from being a strict disciplinarian, and she could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. She could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Gloria had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games. The sign on her front door reads, "Enter at your own risk, grandchildren spoiled while you wait!"

Gloria's primary occupation was full-time Mom and homemaker. While in high school, Gloria worked at a candy and ice cream store where not one new flavour was put out for sale until Gloria had been given the opportunity to taste and approve it. Gloria was a captive babysitter in Crystal Beach for an entire summer for her brother Donnie's boss. This was a busy summer with very little time for herself. Shortly after high school Gloria and Reg got married. Together they began their family. She raised her children and did a damn good job! Gloria worked part time at Sears at Christmas for extra money. She worked with her favorite cousin Marion at Joe's Racetrack Restaurant where a customer left her a three-cent tip and Aunt Marion promptly put him in his place and booted him out! She worked with her daughter Kim at Pape Children's House Day Care Centre. On top of all that she was our Five Star General and ruled the house.

Her favorite hobbies were shopping (especially for her children and grandchildren), playing lotteries and playing bingo. Gloria was content to enjoy her hobbies alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.

Gloria and Reg drove to Florida to Disney World for a vacation with Kim, Bev and Brian in the summer of 1977. The trip was filled with Gloria reading in the car. It had many pit stops to get out and run. Gloria had several favourite vacations and they included Hawaii with her husband. They went twice; once on their 25th Wedding Anniversary and again on their 40th Wedding Anniversary. There were many romantic weekends at the Oaks Inn in Niagara Falls. Gloria's last vacation was in February 2008 with Brian, Bonnie, Drew and Zachary. They went on a Caribbean Cruise in celebration of Gloria and Reg's 45th Wedding Anniversary and Reg's upcoming retirement.

Gloria was a lover of animals and cherished her pets, enjoying them almost as much as she enjoyed being around other people. Some of Gloria's favourites were Molly the cat and Pee Wee the dog, but not Dumb Dog. Gloria had Boots the cat for 14 years, Pee Wee the dog for 12 years, Molly the cat for 22 years and Dumb Dog for 12 years.

Gloria passed away on October 28, 2008 at Toronto East General Hospital. Gloria fought a brave battle against cancer. She is survived by her loving husband Reg, her children, Kimberley (Patrick), Beverley (Art), Brian (Bonnie), her grandchildren, Drew, Lauren, Zachary, Megan, Emily and Adam, her siblings Wayne, Joan, Donnie, Rhoda (Ro-Ro), Doug, Wanda and Les, and Auntie Glo and too many others to count including her many honourary children and grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Giffen-Mack Funeral Home and Cremation Centre. And her final resting place will be at home where she belongs.

Gloria brought joy to all of those around her. She never had a mean bone in her body. She loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. She loved to share her energy, wit and her zest for all of her activities with her friends and family. Papa has taught the grandkids to take out their pictures of Gramma and tell her that they love and miss her and will never forget her. Gloria Mae Munro lived life to its fullest and made everyone around her happier just for knowing her. She will be remembered with a smile and much love.,

WE WILL ALL LOVE YOU FOREVER!!